Wire Tap: Bullish on Burton

Think St. Louis is kicking itself for parting ways with veteran Torry Holt?

After watching their former No. 1 wide receiver catch five passes for 101 yards, the Rams have been forced to turn to Keenan Burton as their new No. 1 now that Donnie Avery has been lost to a hip injury. How long Avery will be sidelined has yet to be determined (an MRI was negative) but it should prompt fantasy owners to at least consider Burton, who caught five of the six passes thrown to him (37 yards) in the loss to the Jaguars.

It was the second consecutive week in which the second-year receiver out of the University of Kentucky has caught five balls (five for 42 yards against Minnesota in Week 5).

The Rams rank among the top 12 in the league in passing attempts, suggesting that the team's top target -- whoever it is -- is sure to receive a large of number of opportunities. For the next week or two, and maybe longer, Burton figures to be that guy.

Here are a few other waiver wire candidates to consider...

RB Gary Russell, Oakland

Still fresh to the roster, Russell was an integral part of the Raiders attack in their surprising 13-9 win over Philadelphia. He caught five passes for 55 yards -- his best day as a pro. Russell will not be a star in Oakland (who can be?) but he will get more looks after his performance on Sunday. He is also a potential goal line threat, should the Raiders ever approach that area of the field again.

WR Sammie Stroughter, Tampa Bay

For a second consecutive week Stroughter caught three passes, this time for a team-high 65 yards. The 5-foot-10, 189-pound receiver made a nice 29-yard catch on Tampa Bay's first possession that later ended with a touchdown. Stroughter can be called a diamond among a mixed bag of Buccaneers targets. One thing fantasy owners must be aware of, however, is that the Buccaneers generate very little passing offense (22nd in the league), minimizing opportunities for each fantasy receiver.

TE Jeff King, Carolina

First, let's admit that King is no Tony Gonzalez. He's a red-zone threat, if anything at all. But the Panthers 260-pound tight end has caught a touchdown in each of the past two weeks, and that is something desperate fantasy owners can cling to. For those in touchdown-only leagues, or for those owners who are seeing little to no production out of the position, King might be a worthwhile pickup.

Here is a look at this week's buy and sell candidates:

QB Jay Cutler, Chicago

Taking a peek at the next seven games on Chicago's schedule, Cutler gets to face five clubs that presently rank in the bottom third in the league in passing yards allowed. And for as much as Cutler's owners have griped about his production, he hasn't been that bad (tied for eighth in touchdowns, 13th in passing yards). It might be wise to make a move on him now while those owners are still feeling cheated.

RB Ryan Grant, Green Bay

Through five games Grant has yet to register his first 100-yard game. And, in his last three outings, he's failed to score a touchdown. Why buy now? The toughest part of the schedule may be behind the Packers' 26-year-old back. Over the next three weeks he gets to face two beat up run defenses -- Cleveland (30th in both yards allowed and touchdowns allowed) and Tampa Bay (31st in yards allowed and dead last in attempts allowed). Fantasy owners can expect the pastures to get a little greener for Grant.

RB Chester Taylor, Minnesota

For some fantasy owners, the time to gamble is now. Making a play for Taylor could prove to be a very intelligent move down the road. Adrian Peterson's ankle roll on Sunday reminded all of us just how often the game's most electrifying runner has been injured during his collegiate and pro career. Without Peterson, Minnesota would still be a dominant offense, and Taylor would instantly be elevated to one of the game's elite fantasy backs. For those fantasy owners who like to roll the dice, now would be a good time to bring the NFL's best backup into your camp.

RB Clinton Portis, Washington

As much as we'd love to recommend keeping Portis on your roster, the evidence suggests now is the perfect (maybe the only) time to cut and run. Consider: The Redskins' coaching staff is in shambles, and will now be turned over to a guy who just joined the organization a few weeks ago; Portis has no support from the passing game, allowing teams to stack against him; Washington is a losing franchise, and in most games the offense will need to pass more than it cares to. Coming off of his first 100-yard effort of the year, Portis may finally offer value to fantasy owners trying to unload him.

RB Laurence Maroney, New England

Don't just sell Maroney, sell any Patriots back you're carrying on your roster. New England goes through backs like Schlitz goes through our digestive tract. And Maroney's injury history is always a concern. Yep, with a 123-yard day stapled to his resume, Maroney might draw a little attention from your fellow owners. Take advantage.

TE Tony Scheffler, Denver

Scheffler has not been the same player without Jay Cutler throwing him passes, and chances are performances like his 101-yard game on Monday will be few and far between moving forward. For one, more than half of those yards came on one play, not in 10-yard chunks as fantasy owners would prefer to see from a tight end. Also, remember, Scheffler caught a total of just three passes in the season's first three weeks. See what fellow fantasy owners are willing to offer.